You may or may not know this about me. But I have a crazy obsession with Starbucks green tea lattes.
I’ve basically stopped taking pictures of when I go to Starbucks because it happens every weekend, usually twice.
Today I was at the local health food store and picked up a small bag of matcha green tea. This stuff is not cheap, but a little does go a long way.
I bought it so I could enjoy green tea lattes at home for a fraction of the cost of Starbucks. And the taste was pretty darn close!
Homemade Green Tea Latte
- 1 tsp matcha green tea powder
- 8oz steamed milk
- 2 pumps vanilla sweetener
Mmm perfection.
And there are so many great benefits of matcha green tea! Here are some:
[source]
- when you drink matcha you ingest the whole leaf, not just the brewed water
- One glass of matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green tea in terms of its nutritional value and antioxidant content
- Rich in Antioxidants and Chlorophyll
- Contains Catechins Only Found in Green Tea
- Naturally Mood Enhancing
- Zero on the Glycemic Index – will not raise insulin levels
- Sugar-free, High in Fiber
- Exponentially Higher in Antioxidants than Blueberries and Spinach
Matcha is a type of green tea, and green tea contains caffeine. When drinking matcha, whole tea leaves are consumed (not just the steep as with other teas), providing 4 to 6 hours of mild steady energy. Matcha is both a stimulant and a relaxant, perfect for focusing on work, meditation, exercise or play.
Matcha Tea – For Antioxidant Protection
Exponentially Higher in Antioxidants than Blueberries and Spinach
Green teas contain a high amount of antioxidants, chemically compounds known to forestall aging. Antioxidants are found in many fruits and vegetables – even chocolate. A testing method known as ORAC – short for oxygen radical absorbance capacity, evaluates the antioxidant levels found in food. According to research done by Tufts University, the ORAC capacity of matcha green tea is exponentially higher than other foods known for their high antioxidants levels such as blueberries and spinach.
The ORAC rating of matcha is 1300 units/g, compared to 105 units/g for pomegranates and 91 units/g for wild blueberries.
Matcha Tea – For Renown Cancer Fighting Catechin EGCg
Renown Cancer Fighting Catechins are Only Found In Green Tea
Not all antioxidants are created equal. Antioxidants are found in many foods including fruits and vegetables. There are many types of antioxidants, however, the class known as catechins are only found in green tea, and these maybe the most potent of all. And of the catechins, EGCg (epicgallocatechin gallate) is the catechin with broadest and most potent cancer-fighting properties. Sixty percent of the catechin content of matcha tea is EGCg.
One gram of matcha contains 105 mg of total catechin content, or roughly 61% EGCg
Matcha Tea – For Cleansing the Body of Toxins
Rich in Chlorophyll, A Renowned Detoxifying Agent
Chlorophyll, the pigment which gives leaves their green color, helps to remove heavy metals and chemical toxins from the body. Because matcha powdered tea is fully ingested when consumed, unlike tea leaves which are infused then discarded, and because matcha is shade grown, a process which increases the chlorophyll content in the leaves, matcha tea is a chlorophyll rich food.
Matcha Tea – For Naturally Mood Enhancing Amino Acids
Theanine Improves Mood and Concentration
Matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid known to relax the mind. For this reason, matcha is also known as a mood enhancer. Buddhist monks drank matcha to assist in meditation, as matcha’s amino acids, combined with caffeine, offer a sustained calm alertness over time. Amino acids are also what gives matcha is distinctive taste. They contribute to what is known as the fifth taste, or umami, characterized by a rich creamy mouth feel. Kama matcha, our ceremony grade tea, made from the youngest, tenderest leaves, contains the highest levels of amino acids. The delicate flavor profiles of Kama Matcha and Morning Matcha are best observed when prepared in the traditional style, with a bamboo whisk and whisked in a matcha bowl.
With all these great benefits, how can you go wrong. Try some today! Even just hit up your local Starbucks and order a green tea latte, that way you can test out if you like the taste or not. It takes a little getting used to, but I really enjoy the taste!
There are some recipes on the webpage I obtained my information from.
I can’t wait to add matcha to some shortbread cookies this year when I make my regular batch for Christmas! It is going to be sooo good.
